Bridle-bit.



PATENTED FEB. 6, 1906.

A. B. CAMPBELL.

BRIDLE BIT. nruonmn FILED 1mm, 190s.

IV VENTO R o lanzafl. CanyfieZZ WITNESSES:

ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

A oNzo B. CAMPBELL, or CORAOPOLIS, PENNSYLVANIA.

BRlDLE-BIT. i i

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1906.

Application filed March 8, 1905. Serial No. 248,985.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALoNzo B. CAMPBELL,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Coraopolis, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Bridle-Bit, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

' This invention relates to bridle-bits used for the control of a horse when riding or driving the animal, and has for its object to provide novel details of construction for a bridlebit that adapt it either for the control of vicious hard-mouthed animals or those that are easily controlled.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, as is hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved bit and bridle mounted upon the head of a horse, showing the application of the improvement as applied for the control of a vicious horse. Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the improvement substantially on the line 2 2 in Fig. 3 and strap ends connected with a detail of the bit and that in completed condition are parts of the bridle. Fig. 3 is a partly-sectional plan view of details of the bit and of a curb-strap secured by its ends thereon, and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a bit-bar that may be employed.

The bit-bar 5 (shown in Fig. 3) is in the form of a straight cylindrical rod of a suitable length and diameter; but said bar may have a looped bend 5 formed at its longitudinal center, as represented in Fig. 4. As shown in Fig. 3, the end portions a of the bit-bar 5 are each rendered angular, one end being shown exposed in said figure. Two similar cheek-rings 6 6 are employed, each consisting of a circular ring having a central cross-bar 6*, which is prolonged at one of its ends outside of the ring, providin a check lever 6 of suitable length, and, as sliown, for one lever in Fig. 2 a longitudinal slot 1) is formed therein near the free end thereof and a like provision is made for each check-lever. A hublike enlargement 6 is formed at the center of each cross-bar 6 and centrally in each hub an angular perforation is formed, which receives a corresponding angular end portion a of the bit-bar 5, said ends being secured in sides of the latter, whereby the cheek-rings 6 are securely mounted upon the ends of. the bit-bar parallel with each other. It is essential that the check-levers 6 project from the normally forward side of the bridle-bit and be disposed directly opposite each other. .At a right angle to the cross-bar 6 on each cheekring 6 a curb-bar 6 extends between arespective hub 6 and the normally lower portion of the checlcring.

The similar curb-bars 6 are each slotted longitudinally near the body of the checkring, as shown, for one bar in Fig. 2, these slots 0, respectively, receiving an end portion of a stout curb-strap 7, secured to the curbbars, and for effective service the curb-strap 7 is of such a length that it may be passed below the lower jaw of an animal that receives the bit-bar in its mouth, the bowed strap having a rearward trend, as indicated in Fig. 2. A chain may be substituted for the curbstrap. An eye 6 is formed on the exterior of each ring 6 opposite the curb-bar 6.

As before mentioned, the check-levers 6 project forwardly and should have such a length as will afford necessary leverage, and in the slot 6, formed in the free end of each lever, one end of the furcated overdraw-rein h is secured, said rein being extended over the head of the animal, under or on the straps of the head-stall, and thence rearward for manipulation as occasion may require. It will be seen that the overdraw-rein it may be of such a length as will permit it to be grasped by the driver seated in a vehicle drawn by an animal controlled by the improvement.

In arranging the driving-reins i i for control of a horse that is tender in the mouth or of a gentle disposition, assuming that the curb-strap 7 loosely engages the lower aw of the animal, the forward ends of the reins are buckled upon the check-rings 6 6 in spaces I,

that are immediately behind the curb-bars 6. It will be seen that by this connection of the reins the pull on the bit-bar 5 is not severe and will not hurt the tender mouth of the animal. In case the beast is hard in the mouth the ends of the reins are then connected with the cheek-rings above the cross-bars 6 which will adapt pulling strain on the reins to rock the bit-bar in the mouth of the animal and cause the curb-strap 7 to press on the lower jaw of the beast, thus giving the animal pain and releasing the bit, that may have been held between the teeth and thus the hubs by riveting them over on the outer I rendered ineffective. If the beast is of a vicious nature and hard to control, the reins are engaged at their ends in the eyes 6, which will give increased leverage for the rocking movement of the curb-bars 6 forwardly and a severe compression of the curb-strap 7 upon the lower jaw of the animal. Should the animal get beyond control after efiort has been made to do so, by pulling upon the drivingreins '1', the overdraw-rein h may then be used, which if forcibly pulled upon will rock the check-levers 6 upward and rearward, which will correspondingly rock the curb-bars tfi forward and pull with great force on the lower jaw of the animal, the pain causing the beast to stop or slacken speed, so as to become manageable.

The device may be termed a luggin lolling, stumbling, and runaway bit. t will keep the mouth of the horse shut, preventing entrance of dust in summer and frost in winter. It will also prevent the horse from forg-' ing or strikin the front feet with the hind feet and if tig tly reined up will prevent the horse from kicking in harness.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent A bridle-bit embodying two similar cheekrings, each having a cross-bar and a central hub on each cross-bar, said hubs supporting a transverse bit-bar, a curb-bar extended down at a right angle from each cross-bar and merging into the body of the ring, said curbbars each having a slot therein near the ring, an eye formed on each ring opposite the curbbar, and a check-lever extended outside of each ring in alinement with the cross-bar therein and projected forwardly, said levers each having an opening at its free end for the engagement therewith of an end of an overdraw-rein.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALONZO B. CAMPBELL. Witnesses:

A. M. DUNLAP, FRANK R. NEsBIT. 

